Introduction
Central Falls is the Smallest city in the state of Rhode Island and has a variety of factors that affect the quality of life and education of children living in the city. The city is located near providence and is considered to be an urban environment which tend to have more poverty and crime than suburban areas. This is true in the case of poverty with the median family income being less than half of of the median family income of the state. The demographics of central falls is 60% Hispanic or Latino making them a majority in the city with the next largest percent being white at 27%. Health is an issue in Central Falls with more than double the amount of infants being born labeled as 'high risk". The combination of economic, health, demographic, and geographic factors are all factors that influence the well being of the city's citizens and children.
Economics Central Falls, Rhode Island falls beneath economic standards when compared to the rest of the state of Rhode Island. First, the median family income in Central Falls is only $29,396. The median family income of the state, as a whole, is $68,326. Another shocking statistic shows that the percentage of families below the federal poverty threshold in Central Falls is 41.5%, while in Rhode Island the percentage is only 18.4% Almost half of the families in Central Falls are living in poverty. When observing children within Central Falls, it can be concluded that 10% of children live in families that require cash assistance, while only 4% of children’s families in the state, as a whole, require this assistance. It is also evident that more than half of the children in Central Falls’ Schools are participating in the School Breakfast Program. This percentage of 65% can be compared with the rest of the state which accounts for only 39% of students participating in the program. Perhaps one last important statistic to analyze is the cost of rent within Central Falls. The cost of rent is only $876 while the state of Rhode Island’s cost of rent is $1,154. Low rent could possibly translate to poorer living conditions which thus brings the topic of health into the picture when assessing the city of Central Falls
(Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2014). Health As far as overall health is concerned, Central Falls isn’t in an ideal position. The first alarming statistic is the “infants born at highest risk”. In 2009, 10% of infants in Central Falls were considered “born at highest risk”, compared to only 5% in all of Rhode Island. The percentages have since decreased; in 2013 Central Falls was listed at 8%, compared to Rhode Island at 3%. Although the statistics have improved over the past few years, each Central Falls generation starts with a disadvantage from birth. Another surprising stat was the “births to mothers with less than a high school diploma”. From 2008-2012, the percentages have remained uniform in Rhode Island and Central Falls. Central Falls averages 37% while Rhode Island averages a moderately lower 15%. This means that in addition to being born with health risks, a sizeable amount of children from Central Falls are being raised by an unfit parent. Undoubtedly, someone with an education lower than a high school diploma cannot provide the necessities for their child to succeed. Other concerning statistics include Central Falls’ larger than normal “teen birth rate” and “asthma hospitalization rate”. Certainly, if this community wishes to improve at an academic level, it must first improve in its health aspect. (Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2014) Demographics The demographics of Central Falls, Rhode Island are very diverse and widely spread. A large portion of the population are of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. That amount of the population is 60.3%, this means that they are the majority in the city of Central Falls. Then next largest percent is that of those who identify as only white, with 27.3%. The third largest group is those who identify as only African American, this population is only 2.8%. The rest include people of American Indian and Asian ancestry, combined they are 0.7% of the population. With the many different types of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, it makes this city an extremely diverse place.
Geography
Central Falls is the smallest city in the smallest state. Located in Providence County, and north of Pawtucket Rhode Island, Central Falls sits quaintly bordered to the east by Massachusetts. The Blackstone River also runs along Central Fall's eastern border. The town itself was named after a waterfall on the Blackstone River. The population of this city is 19,416 according to the 2013 Census, which is very large. The density according to the 2010 Census is 16,146.7/sq mi. The zip code for Central Falls is 02863. As well as being smallest, it is the most densely populated city in Rhode Island, with and area of 1.29 square miles; 1.2 square miles being land, and 0.1 square miles being water. The large population and small area of the city could be a factor in the poor quality of the high school; too many children and not enough resources to facilitate everyone.
Conclusion
These are the influences on Central Falls that effect the over well being of its citizens and youth. Economic, health, demographic, and geographic influences all effect overall well being of a city and in the case of Central Falls they are not benefiting the community. With poverty at an alarming high percent of the population it's not surprising that the quality of the education system is substandard in the city. The accumulation of these factors all have negative effects on the education of the city and the standard of living of its citizens.
Central Falls is the Smallest city in the state of Rhode Island and has a variety of factors that affect the quality of life and education of children living in the city. The city is located near providence and is considered to be an urban environment which tend to have more poverty and crime than suburban areas. This is true in the case of poverty with the median family income being less than half of of the median family income of the state. The demographics of central falls is 60% Hispanic or Latino making them a majority in the city with the next largest percent being white at 27%. Health is an issue in Central Falls with more than double the amount of infants being born labeled as 'high risk". The combination of economic, health, demographic, and geographic factors are all factors that influence the well being of the city's citizens and children.
Economics
Central Falls, Rhode Island falls beneath economic standards when compared to the rest of the state of Rhode Island. First, the median family income in Central Falls is only $29,396. The median family income of the state, as a whole, is $68,326. Another shocking statistic shows that the percentage of families below the federal poverty threshold in Central Falls is 41.5%, while in Rhode Island the percentage is only 18.4% Almost half of the families in Central Falls are living in poverty. When observing children within Central Falls, it can be concluded that 10% of children live in families that require cash assistance, while only 4% of children’s families in the state, as a whole, require this assistance. It is also evident that more than half of the children in Central Falls’ Schools are participating in the School Breakfast Program. This percentage of 65% can be compared with the rest of the state which accounts for only 39% of students participating in the program. Perhaps one last important statistic to analyze is the cost of rent within Central Falls. The cost of rent is only $876 while the state of Rhode Island’s cost of rent is $1,154. Low rent could possibly translate to poorer living conditions which thus brings the topic of health into the picture when assessing the city of Central Falls
(Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2014).
Health
As far as overall health is concerned, Central Falls isn’t in an ideal position. The first alarming statistic is the “infants born at highest risk”. In 2009, 10% of infants in Central Falls were considered “born at highest risk”, compared to only 5% in all of Rhode Island. The percentages have since decreased; in 2013 Central Falls was listed at 8%, compared to Rhode Island at 3%. Although the statistics have improved over the past few years, each Central Falls generation starts with a disadvantage from birth.
Another surprising stat was the “births to mothers with less than a high school diploma”. From 2008-2012, the percentages have remained uniform in Rhode Island and Central Falls. Central Falls averages 37% while Rhode Island averages a moderately lower 15%. This means that in addition to being born with health risks, a sizeable amount of children from Central Falls are being raised by an unfit parent. Undoubtedly, someone with an education lower than a high school diploma cannot provide the necessities for their child to succeed.
Other concerning statistics include Central Falls’ larger than normal “teen birth rate” and “asthma hospitalization rate”. Certainly, if this community wishes to improve at an academic level, it must first improve in its health aspect.
(Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2014)
Demographics
The demographics of Central Falls, Rhode Island are very diverse and widely spread. A large portion of the population are of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. That amount of the population is 60.3%, this means that they are the majority in the city of Central Falls. Then next largest percent is that of those who identify as only white, with 27.3%. The third largest group is those who identify as only African American, this population is only 2.8%. The rest include people of American Indian and Asian ancestry, combined they are 0.7% of the population. With the many different types of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, it makes this city an extremely diverse place.
Geography
Central Falls is the smallest city in the smallest state. Located in Providence County, and north of Pawtucket Rhode Island, Central Falls sits quaintly bordered to the east by Massachusetts. The Blackstone River also runs along Central Fall's eastern border. The town itself was named after a waterfall on the Blackstone River. The population of this city is 19,416 according to the 2013 Census, which is very large. The density according to the 2010 Census is 16,146.7/sq mi. The zip code for Central Falls is 02863. As well as being smallest, it is the most densely populated city in Rhode Island, with and area of 1.29 square miles; 1.2 square miles being land, and 0.1 square miles being water. The large population and small area of the city could be a factor in the poor quality of the high school; too many children and not enough resources to facilitate everyone.
Conclusion
These are the influences on Central Falls that effect the over well being of its citizens and youth. Economic, health, demographic, and geographic influences all effect overall well being of a city and in the case of Central Falls they are not benefiting the community. With poverty at an alarming high percent of the population it's not surprising that the quality of the education system is substandard in the city. The accumulation of these factors all have negative effects on the education of the city and the standard of living of its citizens.
Works Cited
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. (2014). Rhode Island Kids Count 2014 Factbook. Retrieved from __http://www.rikidscount.org/matriarch/documents/CentralFalls2014.pdf__
United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). 2010 Census. Retrieved from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml